Here’s the statement just issued by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., regarding today’s EPA proposal on carbon pollution from power plants:

The EPA announced today a major step in reducing carbon emissions, and I support its goal of safeguarding the public’s health.  Strengthening West Virginians’ health and well being has always been at the heart of my career in public service.

I understand the fears that these rules will eliminate jobs, hurt our communities, and drive up costs for working families.  I am keenly focused on policy issues that affect West Virginians’ health and their livelihoods.  However, rather than let fear alone drive our response, we should make this an opportunity to build a stronger future for ourselves.  West Virginians have never walked away from a challenge, and I know together we can create a future that protects our health, creates jobs, and maintains coal as a core part of our energy supply.  Already, we’ve seen successes with clean coal technology in West Virginia, and countries around the world are innovating to reduce carbon emissions from coal.  We have the brightest minds and the competitive spirit to solve this challenge – but achieving this goal means finding the political will to invest real federal dollars in clean coal technology rather than continuing to rely solely on the private sector.

The threat that climate change and unhealthy air pose to all of our futures cannot be understated.  And, the costs of inaction are far greater than the costs of action.